Morris Minor Owners Club

i read somewhere a while ago about the oil filters for k series engines being a straight swap for the 1275 type, but that the k series filters have better filtering stuff inside. Has anyone heard of this before? or should i put this theory on the list of "things that dont exist" (if you watch father ted you will understand )

I am also thinking of putting some strong magnets on the bottom of the sump (on the outside). They will collect any metal produced by the engine, then when replacing the oil, remove the magnets, and flush the sump out through the sump plug by flowing something (cheap oil or something) through the dipstick hole. then all the metal wud come out of the sump. replace the magnets and fill with oil.

Picky

Jonathon will probably tell you all about the K series filters. The sump
plugs on many of the later leyland cars had magnetic implants in them
so there may be one which fits the Minor.

yes i was using a magnetic sump plug on my last engine, and with the amount of stuff it picked up i reckon more magnets wud pick up more stuff. see what jonathan has to say about the filters.

Hi Picky, can't help really as we use remote oil filters. I'd have thought most good quality filters will be good enough for your application.
I'd beware about magnets and oil though. Our electrical boffin works for a major American engine manufacturer. They were asked to evaluate Magnatex oil which worked on the premise of the oil being magnatised and so sticking to the inner surfaces of the engine and not draining so easily. However this quality also meant that any swarf or metal particles were captured by the oil and caused vastly increased engine wear. You could not remove this product unless you dismantled the motor because of the magnetic qualities. I'm worried that the approach you suggest will just mimick this problem

I thought oil had no magnetic properties and thats why magnatec could not be sold under that name in the US? Maybe I shouldn't believe everything I hear.

Castrol Magnatec uses a chemical called a "synthetic ester" to stick to the bearing surfaces, not magnetism.

Consider attaching the magnets to the filter instead, so the swarf will be thrown away with the filter when you change it.

Same difference really, sticking to the surface is still the same which encourages wear if swarf is caught up in it.

Oil is a hydrocarbon and not a metal, therefore it cannot be magnetic. I think that Magnatec story is likely just an urban myth- maybe spread by a competitor??? I dont use magnatec BTW.

You can buy magnetic sump plugs for the Minor, I'm trying one on my traveller (from ESM). The theory os good, any swarf/ metal bits will be trapped by the magnet sump plug and not circulate in the engine causing damage. Don;t put magnets on the sump- if the sumpl becomes magnetic you'll have to drop the sump at each oil change to remove any bits.

Not that you will find many, as these magnetic sump plugs are most useful where the engine and gearbox share the same oil- such as FWD A series cars.

John, that's worth knowing re the availability of a magnetic plug, it certainly will not do any harm. The ones from my front wheel drive A series cars always came out looking like three days growth of stubble.

Yes, so did mine when I had an Allegro. But thats due to tiny bits of gear teeth being chipped off.